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Considerable research has compared quasi-linear convective system (QLCS) tornadoes and tornadoes associated with other convective modes. The present study seeks to identify environmental and radar characteristics associated with, specifically, QLCS tornadoes occurring in the lower Mississippi River Valley, with analysis focused on seasonal and tornado-intensity variability. Archived radar and mesoanalysis data from 2009–2013 are analyzed to identify the environmental and storm-scale characteristics associated with lower Mississippi Valley tornadoes, and a comparison is made with both QLCS and non-QLCS tornadoes across the remainder of the United States to identify unique attributes. Analysis of the environmental variables in this regime suggests relatively lower magnitudes of lowest 100-hPa mean-layer convective available potential energy (CAPE) when compared to all other tornadoes (non-QLCS modes in the lower Mississippi Valley and all modes in all other portions of the United States). However, the low-level and deep-layer bulk wind differences for lower Mississippi River Valley QLCS tornadic storms are similar to other tornadic storms. Although previous studies often noted the relationship between CAPE and tornado potential, significant QLCS tornadoes are found to occur in low CAPE environments. Additionally, radar data from a sample of the QLCS tornadoes from the dataset were examined, considering the rotational velocity up to three radar volume scans before the initial tornado report to determine characteristics of radar circulations associated with QLCS tornadoes prior to their occurrence. Temporal trends in rotational velocity are provided and could serve as guidance to forecasters in anticipating QLCS tornado occurrence in a short-term forecast scenario. ABSTRACT (Manuscript received 11 August 2016; review completed 21 November 2016)

Lower Mississippi River Valley Quasi-Linear Convective System Tornado Environments and Radar Signatures